Estimation of cytokines in PHA-activated mononuclear cells isolated from human peripheral and cord blood

T cells or T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that bind to specific antigens which are found on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). T cells are activated by encountering APCs and undergoing a series of reactions which lead to immune homeostasis. Their production of multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, IL-6 and IFN-10 makes them play a vital role in immune responses and defending the body against infection. They are especially important in both progression and decline of tumor formation. T cells also have numerous clinical applications when they are improved by combining gene therapy and immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated the time-dependent cytokine secretion ability of phyto-hemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T cells derived from human peripheral (PB) and cord blood (CB). We hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNFα, levels would be higher in PHA-activated T cells obtained from PB as compared to the levels obtained from CB and would decrease over time. Upon PHA-activation, the IL-10 levels were relatively high while the TNFα levels decreased, making these findings applicable in therapeutic treatments e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and organ transplantation. The results could potentially be used to identify, analyze, and apply cell-free systems, i.e., in vitro systems where biological mechanisms are observed in the absence of complex interactions which occur in whole cell studies to cancer immunotherapy.